You can make a decent bow and arrow with household objects.
The bow and arrow is an ancient weapon most commonly associated with Native Americans, but was also used by cultures around the world. It consists of a very taut, stringed bow with thin, usually pointed arrows. Today, very high-tech and advanced bows called crossbows are available, but there is truly nothing like creating one yourself. You can make a homemade crossbow that functions as well as a manufactured one.
Instructions
Making the Bow
1. Cut the hula hoop in half using the sharp knife. Take one of the halves and trim off six inches of hoop from each end so that you have a more "bowlike" shape.
2. Untwist the six wire clothes hangers and straighten the wire out as much as possible. Cut off the twisted and hooked ends of each hangers, leaving only straight metal. Bend each of the hanger pieces so that each one matches as closely as possible the arc of the hula hoop piece. Tape all of the pieces together in the same direction with duct tape so that they form a bundle. Insert this into the hula hoop.
3. Cut a 1-inch slit into the top and bottom ends of the hoop. Tie one end of the elastic band tightly to the top of the bow, pushing the string first into the top slit. Stretch the band to the other end of the hoop and tie it tightly around that end; again insert the band into the bottom slit first. The band should be very taut. Wrap both ends of the bow securely with duct tape, covering the string and both of the open ends of the hoop.
4. Cut a large slit (about 1/8 inch tall, 1/4 inch wide) on the one side of the bow in the midpoint between both ends. Break the popsicle stick in half and glue both halves together, one on top of the other. Insert this piece into the slit, glue it in and tape it to the bow as well to make it secure. This piece is called the arrow rest and will be used to balance the arrow while shooting.
5. Wrap duct tape several times around the center of the bow directly under the wooden piece making a four-inch long, thick hand grip.
Making the Arrow
6. Take each of the six wooden dowels and cut a groove into one end of each dowel. The grooves should be about 1 cm deep and should be wide enough for the elastic band to fit inside of each one. This end is where you grab the arrow and fit it onto the bow string to be pulled back.
7. Carve the opposite end of each wooden dowel to form a rounded point. You do not want the point to be sharp to avoid potential injury to anyone when the arrow is fired.
8. Glue a few craft feathers to each dowel just above the grooved end. This is purely for decoration and can be omitted if desired.
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